TIP #1085 KENTUCKY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR April 25, 1898 to August 12, 1898.

As an introduction to these tips, I am using as my source a Preface to a book of the same which deals with the Spanish-American War – a short and often overlooked war. The Preface was written by Major General Billy G. Wellman, The Adjutant General of Kentucky on 1 December 1987. (Frankfort, KY). Then I will list the soldiers who served in this war.

“The Spanish-American Conflict has been called “The 100 Days War”, “The Little War” and the “War of American Imperialism” depending upon the writer’s historical or foreign policy views.

“Whether the United States battleship “Maine” was a victim of Spanish sabotage or self-destruction, is still debated. Regardless, the terrible February explosion aboard the “Maine” only triggered the struggle for control of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

“The fires of war had been kindled through diplomatic confrontations between Spain and the United States. Spain was determined to keep her lucrative western hemisphere colonies. The United States was equally determined to rid the hemisphere of any foreign power incursions.

“Across our nation and commonwealth, you men responded to the call to arms. Colonel John B. Castleman, commander of the First Infantry Regiment, Kentucky State Guard, had forseen war’s probability and intensified recruiting to build his regiment to wartime strength. Throughout Kentucky, patriots rallied to the banners of the Second, Third and Fourth Regiments of the State Guard. Troops A and B of the First Cavalry Regiment drew young mountaineers from Southeastern Kentucky with visions of sabers and saddled steeds.

“When the May 1898 Presidential Proclamation calling for troops reached Governor William O. Bradley’s office, the Kentucky State Guard was ready. The abbreviated war severely limited their participation. The two regiments finally sent to the war zone found themselves performing escort, police, patrol, civil disturbance and flag raising duties. Disappointing to Kentuckians with a heritage of immediate and critical involvement in all the nation’s previous conflicts. They were ready, but the war would not wait for them.

“The “Little War” had tremendous impact on our military services. Logistical, medical, training, command and coordination problems led to sweeping changes in policies and laws governing United States reserve forces. Modernization and standardization of the reserve forces began with the Dick Act of 1903 and has continued through a chain of National Defense Act revisions. The Spanish-American War did indeed provide insights essential for our military successes in two world-encompassing struggles.”

What Had Started the “Little War”?

Briefly, and citing from Wikipedia the Spanish–American War “was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, the result of American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. American attacks on Spain's Pacific possessions led to involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately to the Philippine–American War.

“Revolts against Spanish rule had occurred for some years in Cuba. There had been war scares before, as in the Virginius Affair in 1873. In the late 1890s, American public opinion was agitated by anti-Spanish propaganda led by journalists such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Hearst which used yellow journalism to criticize Spanish administration of Cuba. After the mysterious sinking of the American battleship Maine in Havana harbor, political pressures from the Democratic Party and certain industrialists pushed the administration of Republican President William McKinley into a war he had wished to avoid.

“Compromise was sought by Spain, but rejected by the United States which sent an ultimatum to Spain demanding it surrender control of Cuba. First Madrid, then Washington, formally declared war.

“Although the main issue was Cuban independence, the ten-week war was fought in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. American naval power proved decisive, allowing U.S. expeditionary forces to disembark in Cuba against a Spanish garrison already brought to its knees by nationwide Cuban insurgent attacks and further wasted by yellow fever. Numerically superior Cuban, Philippine, and American forces obtained the surrender of Santiago de Cuba and Manila despite the good performance of some Spanish infantry units and fierce fighting for positions such as San Juan Hill. With two obsolete Spanish squadrons sunk in Santiago de Cuba and Manila Bay and a third, more modern fleet recalled home to protect the Spanish coasts, Madrid sued for peace.

“The result was the 1898 Treaty of Paris, negotiated on terms favorable to the U.S., which allowed temporary American control of Cuba, and ceded indefinite colonial authority over Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands from Spain. The defeat and collapse of the Spanish Empire was a profound shock to Spain's national psyche, and provoked a thoroughgoing philosophical and artistic reevaluation of Spanish society known as the Generation of '98. The United States gained several island possessions spanning the globe and a rancorous new debate over the wisdom of expansionism.

The above is just a brief overview of the war, one can study more about it.

The names of Kentuckians serving in this short war was prepared by the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky 1898-99 and lists the Kentucky Volunteers. The list was compiled and printed in Frankfort by authorization of the Kentucky State Legislature in 1908.

The officers will be shown first, followed by the volunteers in alphabetical order. Almost all dates are 1898. The majority enlisted in Lexington, KY. Muster-out date is May 16, 1899, all at Savannah, GA unless otherwise shown.